Basement area, entrance, &amp;c.



PATENTED- 001:, 9, 1906.

H. D. GILOHRIST. BASEMENT AREA, ENTRANCE, &c.

R O T N E V m 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 833,043. PATENTBD OCT. 9, 1906. H. D. GILCHRIST. BASEMENT AREA, ENTRANCE, 6w.

APPLIOATION FILED 00m. 26, 1905 v 2 sums-$112.11" z.

mysn-ron WITN ESSES HENRY D. GILGHRIST, OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA BASEMENT AREA, ENTRANCE, 81.0-

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented'Dct. 9, 1906.

Application filed Oct0her26, 1905. Serial Noi 234,558.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY D. GILoHRIsT, a resident of Sewickley, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in.- vented a new and useful Improvement in Basement Areas, Entrances, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in basement entrances and other like areas, and has for its object to provide a cheap, simple, and effective form of an area which can be applied easily and quickly to place or set up in position Without the usual building construction for the same, as well as one which will give the proper light to the basement or entrance with which it is used.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specifically set forth and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to construct and use my improved basement area, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my improved basement area, showing the same in position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the same. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views showing other forms of my invention.

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of the drawm s.

As illustrated in said drawings, 1 represents my improved basement area, which is preferably formed of a single metal casting and in box-shape form having the top 2, bottom 3, ends 4, and front or side 5, which preferably extends downwardly and inwardly to form a slanting or inclined wall and connects by a vertical portion 5 with the bottom 3 Extending outwardly from the top 2 and around the ends 4 and side 5 is the flange 6, and from this flange on the ends 4 is a lug or projecting portion 7.

Hinged at 8 on the top 2 of thebasement area 1 is the door or cover 9, which is adapted to fit within an opening 2, formed in said top, and has secured therein in any suitable manner a sheet of glass, wire-glass, or pavementlights 10. A grating 11, of metal or other suitable material, can be placed under said glass 10 and be held in place in thecover 9 by any suitable means, such as by the lugs or flanges 9 on said cover.

When it is desired to use my improved basement area 1, as shown in Fig. 1, it is set in place within the wall A of the basement-0f a building by inserting the same within the opening a, in said wall leading into the basement as said opening is being formed, so that the bottom 3 of the area-box 1 rests upon the lower face I) of said wallopening and the ends 4 of said box fit or rest against the side faces 1) of the opening. Asthewall Ais built up in forming the same and opening a therein the projecting portions 7 on the end flanges 6 of the box 1 fit within said wall as the same is built up and the inner edge of the top 2 of the box adjacent to said projecting portion fits under the top face I) of said opening and within the same, while such top 2 has a slight drop from the wall A to shed water, 850. Masonry or earth is placed around and against the slanting front or side 5, the portion 5 thereon, the ends 1 of said box, andunder the flange 6 on the top around said side and ends to support said box in position. The

bottom or lower face I) of the opening a in the wall A can be inclined downwardly beyond the inner edge of the box 1 and adjacent to the bottom 3 of said box, as at o, and on a line with the slanting or inclined front or side 5 of said box.

If desired, the inclined front or side 5 of the box 1, forming the basement area or a chute, can have its upper end formed roundedor on a curve, as at 5 in Figs. 4 and,5, in which case the cover9, carrying the glass 10 and grating 11, can be so hinged to the top 2 that the grating will swing downward and the cover and glass upward, or vice versa, from the top and all these parts be secured within said top by any suitable form of lock thereon, as at 12 in Fig. 4, in order to secure said cover and grating in place against the entrance of burglars and other persons through the box into the basement. In such a case the opening a in the wall A of the building can be continued above the box 1 and a sash 13, containing a glass light 13 placed therein in order to assist the box in giving more light into the basement. In Fig. 5 substantially the same form of the box 1 is shown and set inplace, with the exception that the bottom 3 extends out beyond forming the same.

the lower face I) of the wall and is inclined from the ends toward the center, so that a trapped pipe 14 can be connected thereto to lead from the same for carrying off to the sewer any water or other matter entering the box through its open top or grating 14 therein. In this view, Fig. 5, is also shown a double window-sash 15, one of which extends above the to 2 of the box within the opening a in the bui ding-wall .A and the other extends below the same and top and within said opening.

In Fig. 6 is shown my improved box 1, employed and set in place as a basement-entrance, in which a door 16 can be hinged to the top 2 of the same, and head-supports in the shape of lugs 17 can be formed in the ends 4 of the same for the securing of steps 18 thereto in any suitable manner. In such a form the opening a in the building-wall A and over the openin into the box 1 can be provided with a linte formed frame 19 to receive a hinged or sliding glazed or solid door, cover, or guard-railing.

Various other modifications and changes in the design and use of my improved basement area, &c., may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. jag. It will thus be seen that,if desired, for some uses my improved box for basement areas, entrances, 800., can be formed from other material and of separate pieces of sheet metal and seamed together to form the shapes and sizes and that the box can be used for a variety of purposes and provided with any suitable arrangement in its top for light, ventilation, &c.

When my improved box for a basement area, entrance, &c., is in place and in use, the basement will receive proper and ample light and ventilation through the area by means of the box, and such a form of an area can be formed cheaper and easier than the usual forms of these areas and can be set in position with little or no trouble, without great expense, and without the use of masonry in It will also be evident that it can be kept clean and free from dirt, water, &c., and can be handled and set'in place by any unskilled person.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the exterior wall of a building having a basement opening therein, and a metallic basement or entrance area formed of box shape fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground.

2. The combination with the exterior wall of a building having a basement opening therein, and a cast basement or entrance opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground.

8. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said basement formed of a single piece and of box shape fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground.

4. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said basement formed of a single piece and of box shape for fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground, said area having its front side slanting or inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the .said opening and said front or side having its upper end rounded or curved adjacent to said top.

- 5. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said basement formed of a single piece and of box shape for fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground, said area having its front side slanting or inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the said opening and said front or side being connected 'to the bottom by a vertical portion.

6. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said basement formed of a single piece and of box shape for fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground, said area having its front side slanting or inclined downwardly and inwardly from its top toward the said opening, and flanges on the top of said box for holding the box in place.

7. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said basement formed of a single piece and of box shape for fitting within said opening and supported by said wall at its inner end portion and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground, said area having its front side slanting or inclined downwardly and inwardly from its top toward the said opening, and projecting portions on the top of said box for fitting within said wall to hold said box in place.

8. The combination with the wall of a building having a basement-opening therein, and a basement or entrance area for said area formed of box shape fitting within said [basement formed of a single piece and of box shape for fitting within said opening and sup- In testimony whereof I, the said HENRY D. ported by said Wall at its inner end portion GILoHRI'sT, have hereunto set my hand. and having its outer end portion fitting against the earth or ground, said area hav- HENRY D. GILCHRIST. ing its front side slanting or inclined downwardly and inwardly from its top toward Witnessesz.

the said opening, and lugs on said box for J. N. COOKE,

supporting and securing steps therein. R. N. ARTHELM. 

